Welcome the Weak in Faith
One believer eats anything, another only vegetables, and each is quietly despising the other. Paul refuses to settle the menu. Each answers to his own master and our Father has accepted both, so the real sin is putting a stumbling block where a brother walks.
14 1Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not to argue about their opinions. 2One person has faith to eat anything, while the one who is weak eats only vegetables. 3The eater must not look down on the non-eater, and the non-eater must not judge the eater, for our Father has accepted him. 4Who are you to judge another's servant? Before his own master he stands or falls; he will stand—the Lord can make him stand.
5One judges a day above another; another, every day alike. Each must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6Whoever observes the day observes it for the Lord. Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he thanks our Father; whoever abstains, abstains for the Lord, and thanks our Father. 7For none of us lives for himself, and none of us dies for himself. 8If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. Living or dying, we belong to the Lord. 9Christ died and lived again for this: to be Lord of both the dead and the living.
10But you—why do you judge your brother? Or you—why do you despise your brother? We'll all stand before our Father's judgment seat.
11For it's written: "As I live, says our Father, every knee bows to me, every tongue confesses to me."
12So then, each of us will give an account of himself to our Father.
13So stop judging each other. Instead decide never to put a stumbling block or trap before your brother. 14I know, persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself; but to one who thinks it unclean, it is unclean. 15If food hurts your brother, you're no longer walking in love. Don't destroy someone Christ died for with your food. 16So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17The kingdom of our Father isn't eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. a a v17 Paul redefines the kingdom: not a rulebook about eating and drinking, but right standing, deep peace, and joy his Spirit produces. 18Whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to our Father and approved by people. 19So then, let us pursue whatever brings peace and builds each other up. 20Don't destroy our Father's work over food. All things are clean, but eating that makes someone stumble is wrong. 21Good is not eating meat, drinking wine, or anything that makes your brother stumble.
22Keep your faith to yourself before our Father. Blessed is the one who doesn't judge himself by what he approves. 23Whoever doubts is condemned if he eats, since not from faith; whatever isn't from faith is sin.
